The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-11-05

Mr.. E! she gasped, did
you go into the other room?'
"'I did said I.
"'Did you see anybody?'
Il did not, / answered, very
quietly. She looked me squarely in
the eye, 1 looked squarely back. She
bowed, and, apparently relieved,
passed out.
"She had scarcely gone before
Addie came in. She was confused
at seeing me in the sitting room.
"'Oh, Mr.. F. she said, and
then stopped in perplexity.
"'What is it?' 1 asked.
II was going to ask-I-that is
did you go into the other room?
81 did, said l.
Did you see anybody?'
Z" 4 did not
"And then, with the same ques-
ton on her lips, Ellen came in,
ignorant of what had occurred with
the others. She was very grave al
most sad. She asked me the same
question in low, an appealing tone.
l did not like even a subterfuge
with her. When she asked if had
penetrated the mysterious apart
ment l asked, shaking my head:
" And why? Is there any thing
in this house to conceal?
"The eldest sister, who had re-
turned, shook her head in denial. 1t
was no wonder, He was her hus-
band suppose. | looked at Ellen
and Addie. They looked away.
They never looked as lovely, at least
to me. For they would not tell
and they trusted me.
"Well, heard no more of the
stranger, and things ran on as be-
fore for a week or two. Then there
came repeated rumoss of the guer-
rillas in the neighborhood; and we
began to take extra precautions.
continued to call daily at the Suther-
lands, and one afternoon as I was
going awayIEllen seemed particular
ly ill at ease. She was nervous,
hesitating, and altogether unlike
herself. l said good-by to her at
the porch and went out to my horse.
AS l was about to mount she came
out of the house toward me bearing
a long, rich crimson silk scarf, and
fine tassel of white silk at either
end. She held it out to me, saying.
Will you wear this-for me?'
4 cannot rob you,' 1 said. Out
side of the guitar, believe it was
the only thing of any value that she
had lett in the world.
" Please wear it, she said. And
while l hesitated she deftly put it
around my neck, and before | sus-
pected had put her arms around, too,
and kissed me squarely ON the lips.
As | looked at her, quite staggered,
in an altogether happy state of sur
prise, the tears sprang to her eyes,
she turned away and went hastily
into the house.
Il rode down the road slowly.
Her conduct was so strange, the
memory Of that kiss; the first and
last one she ever gave me, was so
tenacious that it drove everything
else out of my mind. My rein fell
upon my horses neck, and if there
had been hostile sharp-shooter or
a Confederate troop any where about
l would have been an easy prey.
had five men with me, but they
had gone further up the road and
did not wait for them. l rode
thoughtfully along during the most
of the way for four miles. Finally
| approached The Gap the place
of which l spoke, the darkest and
most secluded section of the whole
distance.
Gas l entered it | heard some one
calling behind me. In little while
l recognized Josh my negro cook
who had been visiting some planta.
ton. He was afraid, suppose and
wanted protection, though he made
some excuse for calling. l reined
up in the shade of a big fir, by a